"I think I've been f*cked"

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Question:

What songs were on the infamous demo (for what later became LA Light) that caused Walter Yetnikoff to  make that famous statement? According to the P A Carlin book and others, Brian was producing, and shortly after that comment was made, he called Bruce back into the fold. What was on that tape? I know "Looking Down the Coast" and "Calendar Girl"  (and possibly "Santa Ana Winds")were on it; what else was there?

[Exapno Mapcase]

Well, two of those songs would'be improved it considerably.  Instead, we all got f***ed with Here Comes the Night!

[Jason Penick]

Well I'm not sure how much Bruce had a hand in production-wise with "California Feeling", but that was finished up at this time.  It's hard to believe Yetnikoff would have had a problem with that track, though, and personally I think Al's songs from that era are some of the best he ever did. 

So I'm thinking the stuff that pissed old Walter off would have been more among these lines:

Calander Girl
It Could Be Anything
I'm Begging You Please
Why Didn't You Tell Me?
Skatetown USA
A Little Something


Enough to piss any Beach Boys fan off, really.   

[Smilin Ed H]

Wow.  Imagine these along with Here Comes the Night.  What an album.   

[matt-zeus]

If only they'd submitted stuff more regularly to Walter!

[c-man]

Well I'm not sure how much Bruce had a hand in production-wise with "California Feeling", but that was finished up at this time.  It's hard to believe Yetnikoff would have had a problem with that track, though, and personally I think Al's songs from that era are some of the best he ever did. 

So I'm thinking the stuff that pissed old Walter off would have been more among these lines:

Calander Girl
It Could Be Anything
I'm Begging You Please
Why Didn't You Tell Me?
Skatetown USA
A Little Something


Enough to piss any Beach Boys fan off, really.   

"It Could Be Anything" escapes my memory...what was that?
Also, Ed Carter did an interview with the BBFUN newletter around that time where he described something Brian had been working on down in Miami.  He described it as "Pet Sounds"-like, with specially-tuned guitars and pianos that made it sound like a carnival, plus it had some Ray Bradbury-esque spoken word elements to it.  When I checked this with Ed Roach on his message board, he agreed that the description fit the amazing stuff he remembers hearing down there from Brian.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Not "SkateTown" - that wasn't recorded by June/July 1978, when Walter made his wonderful quote, nor "California Feeling" (tape date is 8/28/78).

I'm thinking:
Calendar Girl
Santa Ana Winds
Brian's Back
Shortenin' Bread (1973 track & bvs)

... and if they played him "Rubles", I'm surprised he didn't tear up the contract on the spot. It's like "Wrinkles", only about a horse. Remember, he'd just promised them $8.5 MILLION.

[Jonas]

@ the title of this thread. You'd think it could be titled a bit more appropriately. 

[phirnis]

"It Could Be Anything" escapes my memory...what was that?
Also, Ed Carter did an interview with the BBFUN newletter around that time where he described something Brian had been working on down in Miami.  He described it as "Pet Sounds"-like, with specially-tuned guitars and pianos that made it sound like a carnival, plus it had some Ray Bradbury-esque spoken word elements to it.  When I checked this with Ed Roach on his message board, he agreed that the description fit the amazing stuff he remembers hearing down there from Brian.

Being a fan of the Beach Boys might well be one of the most downright frustrating things in the world.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

@ the title of this thread. You'd think it could be titled a bit more appropriately. 

Yeah,probably. Of course, it was from a famous quote!

ot "SkateTown" - that wasn't recorded by June/July 1978, when Walter made his wonderful quote, nor "California Feeling" (tape date is 8/28/78).

I'm thinking:
Calendar Girl
Santa Ana Winds
Brian's Back
Shortenin' Bread (1973 track & bvs)

... and if they played him "Rubles", I'm surprised he didn't tear up the contract on the spot. It's like "Wrinkles", only about a horse. Remember, he'd just promised them $8.5 MILLION.

Who wrote/sang Rubles? I've never heard of it.

And in all honesty, excepting possibly Brian's Back, those songs in place of , eh...HCTN, Going South, and the version of SB that actually came out on the record, would've made this a great album, instead of a merely good one. Are you sure Looking Down the Coast wasn't on the tape? I thought it was from that time period...or was it recorded AFTER the album?

[Ken.W]

Who wrote/sang Rubles? I've never heard of it.

I think it was Al Jardine.

.. AGD, have I remembered correctly?

[Jason Penick]

Not "SkateTown" - that wasn't recorded by June/July 1978, when Walter made his wonderful quote, nor "California Feeling" (tape date is 8/28/78).

I'm thinking:
Calendar Girl
Santa Ana Winds
Brian's Back
Shortenin' Bread (1973 track & bvs)

Andrew... Do you know when Carl's lead vocal for the 1973 track of "Shortenin' Bread" was ultimately taped?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Not "SkateTown" - that wasn't recorded by June/July 1978, when Walter made his wonderful quote, nor "California Feeling" (tape date is 8/28/78).

I'm thinking:
Calendar Girl
Santa Ana Winds
Brian's Back
Shortenin' Bread (1973 track & bvs)

It certainly existed in fall 1976.


Andrew... Do you know when Carl's lead vocal for the 1973 track of "Shortenin' Bread" was ultimately taped?

It certainly existed in fall 1976. BTW, the bass vocal on this version is Brian, not Dennis. 

[petsite]

There is a tape reel that resides in the BB vaults labeled "Criteria Rough Mix". It contains:

California Feeling
Baby Blue
Santa Ana Winds
Looking Down The Coast/Monterey
Brian's Back (With The BB Backing)
Calendar Girl

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

That honestly doesn't sound so bad.

[Exapno Mapcase]

If you dump Calender Girl and Brian's Back!

[c-man]

There is a tape reel that resides in the BB vaults labeled "Criteria Rough Mix". It contains:

California Feeling
Baby Blue
Santa Ana Winds
Looking Down The Coast/Monterey
Brian's Back (With The BB Backing)
Calendar Girl

Do you have the date on that reel?

[Andrew G. Doe]

The presence of "Santa Ana Winds" dates it to post-late August/early September 1978. "California Feelin'" was taped August 28th.

[c-man]

It'd be interesting to know if this "Brian's Back" uses the same backing track as the one we all know and...love.   Or if it is different...does anyone know?

In an interview for David Leaf's "Pet Sounds" fanzine in late '78, Bruce mentioned that this song had been in the running for the CBS album, but stated he intended to leave it off (because it was a terrible record in his opinion, although he thought the intention was nice).  He also said "a heavy no" on "California Feeling", which may have been Brian's decision, but he doesn't say that. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

No - entirely different, and clunkier, recording. No lead vocal, as far as I know, just the bvs (in which Brian is clearly audible, essentially singing about himself. Wierd).

[matt-zeus]

Maybe there is a way of getting Mikes vocal and sticking it over Brians 'Brians back'?, then again I actually quite like Mikes version, its quite sweet!

[Jason Penick]

In an interview for David Leaf's "Pet Sounds" fanzine in late '78, Bruce mentioned that this song had been in the running for the CBS album, but stated he intended to leave it off (because it was a terrible record in his opinion, although he thought the intention was nice).  He also said "a heavy no" on "California Feeling", which may have been Brian's decision, but he doesn't say that. 

Is that the same interview where Bruce mentions "Do You Like Worms" as a possible cantidate for the album?  I've wanted to re-read that for a while now.

[c-man]

In an interview for David Leaf's "Pet Sounds" fanzine in late '78, Bruce mentioned that this song had been in the running for the CBS album, but stated he intended to leave it off (because it was a terrible record in his opinion, although he thought the intention was nice).  He also said "a heavy no" on "California Feeling", which may have been Brian's decision, but he doesn't say that. 

Is that the same interview where Bruce mentions "Do You Like Worms" as a possible cantidate for the album?  I've wanted to re-read that for a while now.

Yep, same article.  He says "Guercio wants to open the album with 'Rock Plymouth Rock / Roll over' and end with 'Been Away Too Long'.  I wanted to make up a collage, but I want Brian to be the one to put the collage together." 

[Exapno Mapcase]

Instead, we got disco!

[Jason Penick]

Seriously!  I'm starting to feel more and more gyped by the Light Album.  It's basically a collection of odds 'n' ends, similar to 20/20 from a decade prior.  Except that LA completely lacks the group vibe of its older cousin.  Take away "Good Timin'" and the "Here Comes the Night" remake, and I don't think there's any other songs with more than two or three members of the group appearing on them.

It makes me more than a little upset that Brian was writing thiscreative stuff with carnival sounds and spoken segments at the time, but instead we wound up with "Shortenin' Bread" (relative merits of that song aside).  I wish the founding five members had listened to the ideas Guercio and Johnston had presented instead of settling for a hodge-podge of solo numbers.

I remember Jon Stebbins writing something along the lines of "if you liked some songs on the Light Album, you were guarenteed to dislike others", and I think he hit the nail right on the head there.  There are some great songs on that record, but it's not the coherent group statement it could have been.